David Luiz

[robsblubot 3,539]

Apart from the second goal and an earlier mistake at 0-0, I thought he actually did well and was one of the few people actually trying. He was really trying hard to compensate for the lack of passing ability in our pivot and tried to move the ball himself to attack as evident by the number of long balls he played.

Overall a decent game and not nearly as bad as people are making it out to be.

yes, agree that he was actually very good in possession, but that play on the second goal is inexcusable for a defender: he is literally paid not to trust that his teammates are going to clear the ball and should have tracked back while Ramires and William slowed the attacker just enough and yet he was there watching and hoping. I personally don't have a problem with the missed tackle, because he tried a quick interception, which means he might have lacked the balance to win it - it was a decision and considering JT was behind him, I reckon teh correct one.

[CHOULO19 24,332]

yes, agree that he was actually very good in possession, but that play on the second goal is inexcusable for a defender: he is literally paid to not trust that his teammates are going to clear the ball and should have tracked back while Ramires and William slowed the attacker just enough and yet he was there watching and hoping. I personally don't have a problem with the missed tackle, because he tried a quick interception, which means he might have lacked the balance to win it - it was a decision and considering JT was behind him, I reckon teh correct one.

I agree, the one for the second goal was a bad mistake, the missed tackle a minor one because I thought he could have won the ball but he misjudged it. But the point is he wasn't as bad as he is being made out to be. Certainly not as bad as the front 6 that started the game.

[Phil Driver 503]

I agree, the one for the second goal was a bad mistake, the missed tackle a minor one because I thought he could have won the ball but he misjudged it. But the point is he wasn't as bad as he is being made out to be. Certainly not as bad as the front 6 that started the game.

He was dreadful ,you cant rely on him to defend properly one long ball to a forward can beat him it is easy ,he was our worst performer on the day by a distance ,if he wants to learn how to play English football in the winter he should stay up for a week watching videos of the player who partnered him on Saturday ,this is not football on the beach .

[robsblubot 3,539]

I agree, the one for the second goal was a bad mistake, the missed tackle a minor one because I thought he could have won the ball but he misjudged it. But the point is he wasn't as bad as he is being made out to be. Certainly not as bad as the front 6 that started the game.

Certainly.

Some folks here seem to have a hard time understanding the very basic concept of pressure and cover. When Gary and JT play, they both cover (hence the backing off). When David plays, he applies pressure at all times, while the other covers; which is IMO a more balanced pairing. In either case, if they get no support they will succumb all the same. Defenders need cover (from the other lines) at all times because good attackers with possession always have the advantage when being faced 1x1.

JT also benefits from David's chasing, because he gets the opponent in a less than ideal situation already while the guy applying pressure in the open space is more likely to get dribbled. There is really no choice really unless you are OK playing counter-attacking football forever. Because if you want high defense line with possession you need someone applying pressure and chasing in open space.

[Henrique 9,133]

He was dreadful ,you cant rely on him to defend properly one long ball to a forward can beat him it is easy ,he was our worst performer on the day by a distance ,if he wants to learn how to play English football in the winter he should stay up for a week watching videos of the player who partnered him on Saturday ,this is not football on the beach .

I have to admit I admire your kind of nationalism. The way you worship the english players are really poignant. Nowadays, when its getting harder and harder to find a english player good enough to play in a top PL team, it seems this is the thing to do.

You spend your time trying to convince everyone (or at least yourself) that Cahill is one of the best CB in the world, even tough despite all his horrendous mistakes, Luiz is the 1st choice over Cahill, no matter if the manager is AVB, RDM, Benitez or Mourinho, and believe me, if Mourinho come to conclusion that Luiz is hopeless, he will buy another CB to replace, because he knows Cahill is not enough for top football (perhaps he is good enough for english football).

Other day you said Lampard should be playing in a more attacking role, even tough the team have Mata, Oscar, Willian, Hazard and Schurlle, but unfortunately all of them are outsiders.

I can't criticize you at all, it seems you are a fan since 1968, you are from England and all that kind of stuff. With the football globalization, and teams like Arsenal that have a french manager and sometimes no english players at all, I really appreciate your efforts. Most of english forum members are really negative towards their countrymen players. You give the forum a good balance, and you are such a character. Easily one of my favorite forum members.

[robsblubot 3,539]

I have to admit I admire your kind of nationalism. The way you worship the english players are really poignant. Nowadays, when its getting harder and harder to find a english player good enough to play in a top PL team, it seems this is the thing to do.

You spend your time trying to convince everyone (or at least yourself) that Cahill is one of the best CB in the world, even tough despite all his horrendous mistakes, Luiz is the 1st choice over Cahill, no matter if the manager is AVB, RDM, Benitez or Mourinho, and believe me, if Mourinho come to conclusion that Luiz is hopeless, he will buy another CB to replace, because he knows Cahill is not enough for top football (perhaps he is good enough for english football).

Other day you said Lampard should be playing in a more attacking role, even tough the team have Mata, Oscar, Willian, Hazard and Schurlle, but unfortunately all of them are outsiders.

I can't criticize you at all, it seems you are a fan since 1968, you are from England and all that kind of stuff. With the football globalization, and teams like Arsenal that have a french manager and sometimes no english players at all, I really appreciate your efforts. Most of english forum members are really negative towards their countrymen players. You give the forum a good balance, and you are such a character. Easily one of my favorite forum members.

completely agree.

Though a bit of consistency (from him) now and then wouldn't hurt.

[YouNameIt 1,511]

I have to admit I admire your kind of nationalism. The way you worship the english players are really poignant. Nowadays, when its getting harder and harder to find a english player good enough to play in a top PL team, it seems this is the thing to do.

You spend your time trying to convince everyone (or at least yourself) that Cahill is one of the best CB in the world, even tough despite all his horrendous mistakes, Luiz is the 1st choice over Cahill, no matter if the manager is AVB, RDM, Benitez or Mourinho, and believe me, if Mourinho come to conclusion that Luiz is hopeless, he will buy another CB to replace, because he knows Cahill is not enough for top football (perhaps he is good enough for english football).

Other day you said Lampard should be playing in a more attacking role, even tough the team have Mata, Oscar, Willian, Hazard and Schurlle, but unfortunately all of them are outsiders.

I can't criticize you at all, it seems you are a fan since 1968, you are from England and all that kind of stuff. With the football globalization, and teams like Arsenal that have a french manager and sometimes no english players at all, I really appreciate your efforts. Most of english forum members are really negative towards their countrymen players. You give the forum a good balance, and you are such a character. Easily one of my favorite forum members.

Post of the year.

[Phil Driver 503]

Did he get upset because Luiz was awful?

That is what happened.

[The only place to be 11,313]

I have to admit I admire your kind of nationalism. The way you worship the english players are really poignant. Nowadays, when its getting harder and harder to find a english player good enough to play in a top PL team, it seems this is the thing to do.

You spend your time trying to convince everyone (or at least yourself) that Cahill is one of the best CB in the world, even tough despite all his horrendous mistakes, Luiz is the 1st choice over Cahill, no matter if the manager is AVB, RDM, Benitez or Mourinho, and believe me, if Mourinho come to conclusion that Luiz is hopeless, he will buy another CB to replace, because he knows Cahill is not enough for top football (perhaps he is good enough for english football).

Other day you said Lampard should be playing in a more attacking role, even tough the team have Mata, Oscar, Willian, Hazard and Schurlle, but unfortunately all of them are outsiders.

I can't criticize you at all, it seems you are a fan since 1968, you are from England and all that kind of stuff. With the football globalization, and teams like Arsenal that have a french manager and sometimes no english players at all, I really appreciate your efforts. Most of english forum members are really negative towards their countrymen players. You give the forum a good balance, and you are such a character. Easily one of my favorite forum members.

Not sure if there's a need to bring the nationality of supporters into it. Seems a strange line to take.

[zolayes 14,489]

J T Leader and Legend BUT I am afraid John will have at most two more seasons .. Luiz is a potential leader ..lets support him

[OneMoSalah 8,789]

If Luiz is gonna be captain hes got to cut errors out of his game. What good is a captain if he doesn't set an example? It might be difficult because Luiz is his own worst enemy.

[zolayes 14,489]

If Luiz is gonna be captain hes got to cut errors out of his game. What good is a captain if he doesn't set an example? It might be difficult because Luiz is his own worst enemy.

Watch him playing for Brazil

[The only place to be 11,313]

Watch him playing for Brazil

He's got to bring the same commitment to the cause that he brings for Brazil. He can't switch off against teams like Cardiff just because they're only Cardiff.

JT shows the same level of commitment every game because it doesn't matter which club he's going up against, it only matters that he's pulling on the blue of Chelsea. That's what a leader is. That's the leadership he showed on Sunday when Luiz really didn't.

[robsblubot 3,539]

He's got to bring the same commitment to the cause that he brings for Brazil. He can't switch off against teams like Cardiff just because they're only Cardiff.

JT shows the same level of commitment every game because it doesn't matter which club he's going up against, it only matters that he's pulling on the blue of Chelsea. That's what a leader is. That's the leadership he showed on Sunday when Luiz really didn't.

Well, Brazil has Luiz Gustavo as a dedicated holding mid who can cover David (and the defense including Marcelo) at all times. I read an article of one of our posters here (can't remember his name) on Brazil, and he joked that Gustavo was going crazy trying to cover for Luiz for Brazil; I thought to myself, well that is his job! If Luiz Gustavo did not provide defensive cover than he wouldn't play - Hernandes or another more technically apt player would take his spot.

Perhaps our defense is just way too exposed? Lampard went missing (his stats were pretty bad actually) which caused problems to Ramires and the defense. I could go into cover and pressure again (concerning Terry), but already made that point.

[Phil Driver 503]

Brazil and football in the sun is not the same as Newcastle and the Premier league in the mud and rain and it showed,he reminds me a lot of Frank Lebouef in his early days,Lebouef learned how to cope,Every season we seem to falter when the clocks go back,it is no coincidence,Luiz did not want to get dirty on Saturday. He remains a player of supreme ability,but needs to be able to cope with days like Saturday,his patheric effort of a tackle followed by the cowardly trip is not what is needed on a winters day up north in England.

[Tomo 21,733]

What i find funny is how Luiz is this 'liability' and Cahill is the 'solid, safe option'. It's amazing what the media and pundits can do, it really is.

They both have flaws to their game's (which is why they are horrible as a partnership, the worst at Chelsea in my lifetime imo) but i find it hilarious how someone who can't play the offside trap for shit and is easily conned by the opposition (check the dummy Gibbs sold him last season) is regarded as a safe and solid option. Having said that even as someone who likes Luiz, i just can't see him being the future captain, the next long term one at this club will probably be Chalobah.

[robsblubot 3,539]

Brazil and football in the sun is not the same as Newcastle and the Premier league in the mud and rain and it showed,he reminds me a lot of Frank Lebouef in his early days,Lebouef learned how to cope,Every season we seem to falter when the clocks go back,it is no coincidence,Luiz did not want to get dirty on Saturday. He remains a player of supreme ability,but needs to be able to cope with days like Saturday,his patheric effort of a tackle followed by the cowardly trip is not what is needed on a winters day up north in England.

fair enough...

The team crumbled in the second half though. Look at the number of saves Cech made in he second half. The number of times, our defenders were one-on-one against the opposition (like in David's missed interception). That's a big no no in football.

The logic of if we had X instead of Y only works if X's deficiencies are factored in, not only his virtues. Otherwise the player who did not play, when we lose, is always better than the one who did play. That's why you see ppl saying Mikel should've played.

When so many things go wrong in a team, some (prob most of the) blame has to be on the manager who picked the players and the strategy. Was a high defense line correct against a team who (historically) thrive in long balls? On a wet pitch like you said? The strategy wasn't David's, but Mourinho's.

[Vybz Kartel 1,613]

Most people are making him a scape goat. He wasn't even at fault for both goals, I admit he has his flaws but seriously give him a break. Cahill has had worse mistakes but still people don't criticise him for example against arsenal he played miyachi in same as against city he war consistently playing aguero in. Luiz makes one mistake everyone loses their mind but when Cahill, bran and jt do no one bets an eyelid